Mullen, volleyball sticking together
EVANS CITY — One year into her collegiate volleyball career at Indiana (Pa.) University, Amanda Mullen's playing days ended.
“My knee had had enough,” the Seneca Valley graduate said.
But she had plenty of room to help grow the sport.
“I started playing volleyball in seventh grade and was a three-year letter winner at Seneca Valley,” said Mullen, who graduated from high school in 2004. “I was part of some really strong teams there.”
And she wasted no time getting into coaching.
“I coached the seventh grade boys volleyball team as my senior project,” Mullen said. “I knew right then I wanted to stay involved with the sport for a long time.”
Mullen was a middle hitter and team captain at Seneca Valley. She also played for the Renaissance Volleyball Club.
She eventually became a substitute teacher in the North Allegheny School District and helped coach volleyball there. That led her into coaching club volleyball.
It also made her realize the growing popularity of the sport.
“Girls volleyball has become an extremely popular sport,” Mullen said. “Statistically, more girls have been playing volleyball than basketball during the past two years.
“I started coaching with one of the big clubs in the Pittsburgh area. My 14-under team won six out of eight tournaments. But I saw that with these big clubs, a lot of girls were getting lost in the shuffle.”
Mullen decided to do something about that.
In October of 2010, she started the Pitt United Girls Volleyball Club. Originally based out of Evans City, the club attracted 36 girls and had four teams in its first year.
“We primarily practice out of church gyms in the McCandless Township area,” she said. “As volleyball in this area has gotten stronger, it's been reflected by our club's success.”
Now in its eighth season, the Pitt United Girls Volleyball Club has 47 girls and five teams. It attracts players from North Allegheny, Seneca Valley, West Allegheny, Mars, Pine-Richland, Fox Chapel, Knoch, North Catholic, North Hills, etc.
“A lot of those schools have outstanding volleyball programs,” Mullen said.
Pitt United's five teams are 14-under through 18-under. Each team has nine or 10 players.
While Mullen has a few coaches on her staff — including fellow SV graduate Shannon Locke — she coaches the 17-under team that has had a particularly strong season.
Her 17-under team won the 45-team MLK tournament in Lancaster and the 27-team Presidents Day Cup in Columbus, Ohio. The club season runs from December through May.
“This year, we're taking our 17-under team to nationals in June,” Mullen said. “That requires a commitment from the players and parents because it does extend our season.”
A teacher in the Moon School District for the past nine years — where she teaches an advanced cooking class — Mullen plans on coaching at the club level of volleyball for a long time.
“My passion for the game is at the club level.” she said. “I remember driving to Indianapolis for a big club event. There were 60 courts set up with so many volleyballs in the air, it looked like popcorn.
“The girls on these teams truly love the game. The high school season is over after a couple of months and they're not ready to give it up. Those are the kids I love to work with.”
